Giving birth will no doubt be one of the most magical moments of your
life and to ensure that your child is strong and happy, it is important
you do all you can to have a healthy pregnancy. To help you and your baby
on your way, this article has compiled a number of tips that are
guaranteed to make those nine pregnancy months the best they can be!

The first thing you must do when you find you are pregnant is to visit
an obstetrician/gynecologist (OBGYN). They will give you an ultrasound to
see how far along you are and whether your pregnancy appears to be normal.
This stage is crucial and it is important not to leave this too late.

After this, you must begin to change your lifestyle. Remember, you are
no longer eating and exercising for yourself but for two! Firstly, if you
are a smoker or a drinker, you must quit. Cigarette smoke can lead to low
birth weight in babies as well as miscarriages and tubal pregnancies so
try to avoid second hand smoke as it is not conducive to a healthy
pregnancy. The same can be said for alcohol and other toxic chemicals and
substances such as paint fumes. These items are both damaging to the
mother and to the pregnancy.

Another part of changing your lifestyle is your diet during pregnancy.
Make sure to drink plenty of water Ė about 6 to 8 glasses a day. It is not
healthy to be overweight or underweight during a pregnancy but do remember
that you shouldnít diet during pregnancy. Pregnancy is not a time to be
worrying about your weight! Donít skip meals as you and your baby need as
much nutrition and calories as possible, although not the fattening kind
so make sure you get a balance. Junk food is great to satisfy those crazy
pregnancy cravings but try not to go overboard!

If you are worried about weight gain during pregnancy, a great
alternative to dieting is light exercise. You may not have loved it before
your pregnancy, but learn to love it now as it will definitely pay off in
the long run by keeping your baby healthy and your body fit. Light
exercises will not harm your pregnancy so try swimming, yoga and walking.

An additional healthy pregnancy tip that those with busy schedules tend
to forget is the importance of sleep. Make sure to get plenty of rest so
that you and your baby can recuperate and to ensure that your immune
system is as strong as possible. It is advised that you rest on your side
to reduce swelling and generate the best circulation to your baby.

To recap: avoid damaging substances such as nicotine and alcohol, donít
diet during pregnancy, drink plenty of water, practice as much exercise as
safely possible, and get plenty of sleep! Following these pregnancy tips
will make certain that you have a healthy pregnancy and have a happy and
fit child.